Press Release | Office of the Mayor | Westland Doubles Down on Public Safety Investment

For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36300 Warren Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 734.422.1230

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Westland Doubles Down on Public Safety Investment

Westland, MI (July 10, 2018) - The City of Westland has approved the 2018-19 FY budget which includes major investments in the city's public safety assets and personnel. The budget includes funding for:

Personnel

Four officers who were funded through a federal COPS grant. Their salaries are now fully funded by the City.

Dispatchers

The hiring of 4 new dispatchers - the cost of which will be shared between the four communities they serve. The Dispatcher eligibility list has recently been established. Now that the new budget is in place, four additional positions will be filled once background investigations are completed.

Vehicles

The purchase of 3 new police patrol vehicles from North Brothers Ford which will serve as replacements to existing, outdated patrol vehicles being used by the department. The total cost of this purchase is $97,166.

Bullet Proof Vests

The purchase of 35 bullet proof vests from On Duty Gear, LLC. The city is committed to ensuring every officer has new, dependable equipment. These vests are replaced every 5 years to ensure the safety of our officers. The total cost of this purchase is $27,650.

Radio Equipment

Purchase of radio equipment from Motorola Solutions. The new portable radios are to be carried by officers. With this purchase all officers will be provided with new radios, withe the cost of the purchase totaling 54,043.

Body Cameras

Body Cameras for officers, which the department does not currently have. This will enhance the safety of Westland Police Officers as well as Westland residents. The cost for one year leasing agreement is $99,418.32.

"The City of Westland remains committed to providing our police with the tools and resources they need to keep our resident safe," commented Mayor Wild. "I thank the Westland City Council for their support and for their shared vision in the importance of funding for public safety personnel and equipment."

For more information, please call Aubrey Berman at (734)467-3200

Westland, Michigan is the state's 10th largest municipality, with a population of over 84,000 people who exhibit a great deal of pride in their All-American City. Westland has a thriving business community along with beautiful residential areas. The citizens enjoy a wide array of amenities and a quality of life that is second to none.

In 2014, Westland was rated as one of 24/7 Wall Street's America's Best 50 Cities to Live, offering residents and visitors an ideal blend of single-family affordable homes, apartments and condominiums, great schools, and access to numerous outdoor activities. Public safety is delivered by full-service, professional law enforcement and firefighting personnel. Westland Police Department, whose motto is protect and serve, provides emergency dispatch services to four cities and over 100,000 residents; the Westland Fire Department are licensed paramedics who responded to over 9,000 calls for service last year, about 85% being medical based. They never forget their mission of preserving life and property.

Westland is well-known as the premier destination for shopping and dining in Wayne County with hundreds of shops and restaurants anchored by the Westland Shopping Center, one of the country's original four regional malls.

Infinite opportunities are available in Westland for the recreation aficionado including, more than 40 parks and 1,500 acres of trails, a 9-hole golf course, hockey arena, athletic fields, playscapes, a Farmers and Artisans Market and more. One of Michigan's most environmentally friendly cities, Westland has a progressive curbside recycling program with one of the highest participation rates in the nation and the City is raising the bar for cultural experiences with the placement of public art throughout the City.

The City is served by two public school districts; Wayne-Westland Community Schools serving 12,000 youth was recently named one of the Best School in Michigan by WXYZ-TV and is the proud recipient of 14 Golden Apple and two Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards. Livonia Public Schools, educating nearly 15,000 students, is proud of their MEAP/MME scores that exceed state averages and the District has also earned Golden Apple and Michigan Blue Ribbon Exemplary School Awards.

The City provides competitive incentives for those who are interested in investing in Westland, making it one of the hottest investment markets in the region. Our Fast-Track to Business Team, which consists of key decision makers who work diligently on a development plan will "cut the red tape" and expedite the approval process for new business development.